Greece [antikvár]

Greece has a great deal to offer-sun and sand, art and history or just a good time. And prices are still reasonable within a vast rangé of holiday possibilities, from inexpensive to luxury; there is, however, a generál lack of solid comfort and outstanding food. It is a land of contrasts where the influences of all the waves of invaders which flowed and ebbed across Greek soil can still be seen. There are Byzantine towns, Venetian fortresses and Frankish monuments, as weil as the glorious remains of ancient Greece itself, or the ruins of the Minoan era on Crete. It is not necessary to be a scholar of history or archeology to feel the closeness of ancient Greece. The islands have gained in importance as tourist centers, especially Corfu, Crete and Rhodes, which feature prominently in mass tourism, with the inevitable hotel-elephantiasis that has spread along most shores of the Mediterranean. Huge and sadly undistinguished hotels line the ever longer and broader track beaten by tourism. Package tours now blanket the whole of Greece. Happily the lesser islands and mainland beaches are sufficiently numerous for somé to remain the sweet-scented peaceful havens they always were. But even they are in danger of being engulfed in the tide of concrete. Moreover, Greece has become one of Europe's leading centers for sailing and yachting besides providing all traditional and recent nautical sports. In this Guide, we have naturally devoted considerable space to the history and mythology of ancient Greece and to the world-renowned sites where European civilization first flourished. But we alsó have included practical information for the yachtsman who wants to cruise the Aegean, the sportsman who wants to swim, fish, play golf or ski, or just the easy-going wanderer who wants nothing more than a pleasant spot with the sunshine by day and congenial cafes by night. The English-speaking tourist will find no difficulty in making himself understood, even in outlying villages. * We wish especially to acknowledge the help of Peter Sheldon, our Area Editor for Greece, who has once more put his deep knowledge of this fascinating country at our disposal. We would alsó like to thank Geoffrey GrahamBell for his meticulous and timely aid with many of the details of this year's revision. We alsó extend our sincere thanks to the many individuals and organizations who helped in collecting material contained in this book. Our gratitude goes especially to the Greek National Tourist Organization in Athens, together with the Director of the London office and his staff. * While every care has been taken to assure the accuracy of the information in this guide, the passage of time will always bring change, and consequently the publisher cannot accept responsibility for errors that may occur.